UTSA to host pair of matches this weekend

Courtesy: UTSA AthleticsRelease: 10/18/2013

Courtesy UTSA Athletics

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SAN ANTONIO — After three consecutive road matches, UTSA will return home and play three of its final five contests at home beginning with tilts against Southern Miss and Colorado College this weekend. The Roadrunners will face the Golden Eagles at 7 p.m. on Friday night before a 1 p.m. matchup with the Tigers two days later.

The Roadrunners (3-10-1, 2-2-1 C-USA) are coming off a 4-2 setback at North Texas last Friday. The Birds enter play this weekend with seven points, which has them in sixth place in the Conference USA West Division standings. Kauwela Neal and Taylor Wingerden recorded goals last week against the Mean Green and they lead the team with two winners apiece. Goalkeeper Bubba Makela ranks second in the league with 66 saves, 20 of which have come in league play.

The Golden Eagles (6-5-4, 0-3-2 C-USA), who come to the Alamo City on a six-match winless streak, will be looking for their first conference victory of the season. Southern Miss leads the league with 38 goals, despite only scoring once during its last half dozen outings. Danica Roberts leads the conference with 27 points on 12 goals and three assists, while Chelsea Cruthirds owns six winners. Goalie Brittany Taylor leads the circuit with 75 saves and has allowed 12 goals in 13 matches.

Meanwhile, the Tigers (10-3, 5-0 C-USA) will put their undefeated C-USA mark on the line at Rice on Friday night before making the trek to the San Antonio. Colorado College, the only undefeated team in the circuit, sits atop the West Division with 15 points. The squad ranks among the conference’s top five in shots (197), points (78), goals (26), assists (26), goals allowed (8) and goals-against average (0.61). Sarah Schweiss and Kaeli Vandersluis lead the team with 14 points each, while Jessie Ayers tops the group with six goals. Goalie Kate Scheele has played all but 17 minutes in goal this fall and has had a hand in nine shutouts.

The Roadrunners will face Southern Miss and Colorado College for the first time.

Friday night's game will serve as UTSA's Kick Cancer game. Fans can purchase T-shirts for $10 and there will be a silent auction featuring autographed items, ticket packages and a lunch with head coach Steve Ballard. Proceeds from the event will benefit breast cancer research.